Hutsonville, Illinois. Patriotic Bank. September 12, 1859. $10. PCGS Currency Fine 15.This is perhaps the greatest issued Illinois obsolete banknote. This was an unverified bank (they issued $5 and $10 according to the counterfeit detectors of the period) until the Newman Collection was cataloged and sold. It is a prize, fully signed and issued, in excellent grade. Among its many fine points is the once unattributed historical vignette, not seen on obsoletes until this Newman note appeared in April 2015. Identifying the scene with the phrase Ill Try Sir,(not easy to read under the horses rear hooves on the note), was difficult then, It was made clearer when the matching die proof, also in the Newman Collection, verified this and was discussed in the Newman Internet Part 2 sale catalog. The event is a scene from The Battle of Lundys Lane during the War of 1812. It took place at Niagara Falls, Ontario, with the Americans, commanded by Major General Jacob Brown, versus the British. The deftly placed quote, Ill try, Sir, refers to James Millers reported response to General Browns order to take out the British gun positions. Besides this note, to our knowledge, it appears only on some rare United States Land Grant certificates issued for War of 1812 veterans (so-called 40 Acres and a Mule certificates; see our John Herzog Collection sale, August 2018). As such, it appears the vignette was created for those earlier period certificates and selected by this bank for some reason lost in time. The condition for such a treasure is marvelous with no faults noted or observed. Reported unique, the only example for the bank reported. Missing from Schingoethe and all its Illinois predecessors that help build it back to Smedley. The historical vignette not in the Durands volume or The 52 Collection Part II. Finally, we mention that the note is the plated example in the new Don C. Kelly book. Ex Newman Part VI: 19047 where it realized $5,640. A standout in so many regards.
